Authorities blame 'rumors' for raising concerns at local school

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Visitors to St. George Catholic School were stopped at the door and asked to show identification on Friday.

Friday morning Mass for the students was moved from neighboring St. George Roman Catholic Church to the school's gymnasium, according to one parent.

A Millcreek Township police officer was at the school, at the school's request, Police Chief Tom Carlotti said.

The heightened security measures were put in place at the school off Peach Street in Millcreek after school officials said they received information from police concerning recent "threats" made against several local establishments, including the school.

That prompted an immediate "lockdown" of the school until further notice, Principal Lawrence S. Neubauer wrote in a letter that was sent to parents on Thursday.

The letter did not address the threats. Neubauer did not return a phone call seeking comment on Friday.

But law enforcement officials said Friday that no threats were ever made against the school or any other local business or person, and they blamed some posts on social media for spreading false information.

"Unfortunately, these types of things can take a life of their own, and there's nothing there to prevent any changing, distorting or spreading of misinformation," said Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Sgt. Mark Zaleski.

Erie County District Attorney Jack Daneri said Friday that state police and the Millcreek Police Department are conducting an open, joint investigation centering on a person that he and others did not name. There have been no specific threats made by the person against anyone, and the person has not been arrested or charged, Daneri said.

"Previous reports flying out there are untrue in the sense that they are saying this guy threatened to harm certain people or harm businesses or harm anyone. There have been no threats made by the individual to anyone," Daneri said.

Carlotti also denied the rumors.

"This information is grossly inaccurate and no threats have been made," Carlotti said in a statement issued Friday afternoon, after he and other members of his department met with Daneri and state police representatives to discuss the matter.

Carlotti directed all other inquiries to state police.

According to Zaleski, an elderly man known to state police made some statements to them over the past two weeks about his concern with the safety of a number of locations along Peach Street in Millcreek and Summit townships, including St. George Roman Catholic Church; Wegmans, 6143 Peach St.; and Panera Bread, 1935 Keystone Drive.

The man was investigated and interviewed at length by state troopers. Zaleski said at this point, the man has not made any direct threats relative to any of the locations, only that he was interested in the safety of those locations.

He said police and the District Attorney's Office wanted to get this information out to the public because of the "overwhelming amount of inaccurate information that has been provided through various means regarding this active and ongoing investigation."

The investigation, and the man, continue to be monitored by all of the agencies involved, Zaleski said.

The rumors spread like wildfire on social media late Thursday night and Friday. They included erroneous reports that a person went to the Millcreek Police Department and made threats to local schools and businesses, authorities said.

TIM HAHN can be reached at 870-1731 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNhahn.

Online Extras

MORE ON CRIME: To see more coverage of crime in the Erie area, including Erie County’s Most Wanted and a map of incidents in Erie and Millcreek Township, click here.